In a statement, Cardinals president William DeWitt III says, "This is a significant construction milestone that will improve the game-day experience by providing additional convenient parking for our fans. It is exciting to see the daily construction progress on Ballpark Village as we all look forward to Opening Day 2014."

This parking lot is just one part of the first phase of the development of Ballpark Village, which, as the team says, "represents the next step in the Cardinals' vision for their investment in downtown St. Louis that began with the opening of the privately financed, $411 Busch Stadium in 2006."

The team, partnering with Cordish Companies, bills the development site as a mixed-use retail, entertainment, office and residential district. It spans seven city blocks on a ten-acre site directly north of Busch Stadium.

The first $100 million phase includes an Anheuser-Busch-sponsored venue, a three-story building with the Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum and a restaurant.